Big Week Propels Off-Net ‘Big Bang’

Dr. Phil (CTD) extended its streak as the No. 1 talk show in the week ending Dec. 11, topping the closely watched category for the 10^th time in 13 weeks this season. Phil was the only talker to reach the 3 level, holding steady week to week at a 3.0 and growing 11 year to year.

Some daytime shows were hurt as viewers went out Christmas shopping and prepared for the holidays. Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC), which had been second, dropped 4% to a third-place 2.7. With Derek Hough, Jonah Hill and Josh Groban as co-hosts, the show was down 36% from Regis Philbin’s final week.

Dr. Oz (Sony) picked up 4% to a second-place 2.8. In fourth, Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.5, followed by Maury (NBCU) and Rachael Ray (CTD), which were unchanged at 2.3 and 1.6, respectively.

Freshmen Shows

Among newcomers, Anderson (WBDTD) held steady at its season high 1.4 and dominated the first-run rookies for the 13th consecutive week. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were flat at 0.6 and 0.5, respectively.

Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating show, matched its season high, improving 17% from the prior week to a 0.7 in households and surging 33% among women 18-34.

In off-net action, freshman Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) inched up 3% to a 6.4 and became the highest-rated sitcom for the first time, topping usual leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD). 30 Rock (NBCU), which airs in mostly lower rated late fringe time periods, slipped 7% to a 1.4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) and Till Death (Sony) were both unchanged at 1.2 and 0.7, respectively.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Veteran laugher Two and a Half Men weakened 3% to a 6.3; Family Guy (Twentieth) was flat at a 4.2; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) lost 3% to a 3.5; Seinfeld (Sony) jumped 8% to a new season high 2.8; while Friends (WBDTD) and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) fell 4% to a 2.4.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) was the second-highest-rated show in syndication with a 7.0 and easily led the court shows despite dipping 3% from the previous week. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) remained at a 2.8; People’s Court (WBDTD) slumped 5% to a 2.0; Judge Alex (Twentieth) added 6% to a new season high 1.8; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) climbed 13% to a 1.7.

Magazine Shows

Entertainment Tonight (CTD) topped the mags in the pre-holiday week, despite easing 5% to a 3.7. Inside Edition (CTD) sank 9% to a 3.0; TMZ (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) was off 5% to a 1.9; The Insider (CTD) and Extra (WBDTD) held firm at 1.6, while Extra Weekend leaped 10% to a 1.1.

Game Shows

Among games, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slid 1% to a 7.5; Jeopardy (CTD) edged up 2% to a 6.3; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at 3.1; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was up 4 to a 2.6.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order (NBCU) ruled the off-net weekly hours for the second straight week, although it fell 6% to a 3.1. Criminal Minds (CTD) was flat at a 3.0; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU) spiked 8% to a new season high 2.7 and moved into third place; Monk (NBCU) managed to lose 7% to a 2.5; tying Without a Trace (WBDTD), which erased 4%, and The Closer (WBDTD), which was unchanged.